Dental Implants: Are They Medically Necessary?

Missing teeth can cause emotional and physical pain. Dental implants are considered a more natural restoration for missing teeth. When no other appropriate restoration is feasible, the implant may become medically necessary.

Identification

• Dental implants offer a secure solution to missing teeth. Often dentures or partial dentures slip or move in the mouth. However, a dental implant--a surgical procedure--replaces missing teeth, or offers support for dentures or partial dentures.

Significance

• Missing teeth may cause a person to lose a great deal of weight. This may lead to a number of serious medical conditions. Dental implants may become medically necessary because of limited solutions to correct the condition.

Effects

• Dental implants are most often placed for aesthetic purposes. However, with facial trauma, bone loss or other anomalies, traditional restorations, such as dentures, may be impossible. This would render dental implants the best solution for tooth restoration.

Options

• Since other restorative options are available to replace missing teeth, they are generally considered first. If the gum and jawbone are in good condition, dental implants are not medically necessary.

Considerations

• According to the American Dental Association, because dental implants require surgery, you must be healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Moreover, you must have enough bone structure and healthy gums to support the implant.